Ch.7926. I Dream of Something Grabbing My Nape (2)

I slept in quite late.

Thanks to that, Luirin only opened her eyes after it was already midday.

She looked around briefly, but her master was nowhere to be seen.

When she asked someone she met in the hallway, they said he had gone out early in the morning.

“How diligent of him.”

This is exactly when one should be sleeping in.

Technically, the request she had taken on was completed the moment they arrived here.

Unless she planned to live here permanently, the most reasonable thing would be to take on another request before leaving.

In that sense, she had been looking for an opportunity to either travel along the same route as her master or perhaps tag along with him entirely.

Despite appearances, her master was quite thorough in his explanations and teachings, and his consideration for others was exceptional.

Yet despite that, he maintained a thoroughness that prevented him from being easily deceived.

His vigilance rivaled that of wild animals, and his intuition was sharp.

While he might not understand worldly matters, he wasn’t naive enough to make careless missteps.

“But it seems like nothing really happened after all.”

No matter how much one tries to muffle it, when a man and woman become entangled as one, sounds inevitably escape.

Even if heat and warmth can be contained, sounds cannot be completely muffled.

Think solid stone walls would provide soundproofing?

Not likely.

Even in upscale inns, let alone cheap ones, when a couple shuts themselves in a room?

Well, you just have to make their intimate noises half your lullaby, what else can you do?

It might be tolerable if it were just men and women, but witnessing burly men or hairy brutes entering a room together with tender gazes?

…That was unhealthy for one’s mental state in a different way.

And what if the inn is fully booked so you can’t change rooms?

That’s truly maddening.

Does that mean you can’t sleep?

Not necessarily, but that’s a different matter entirely.

“Even on a knight’s journey, isn’t abstaining from alcohol and sex a separate issue?”

The fact that her master kept away from alcohol and even women despite being a nobleman was honestly convenient for her as a guide and companion.

There were always those who couldn’t control their urges and caused trouble.

And it was even more annoying when they treated her as an object of those desires.

In that sense, her master had class and dignity.

He was the very embodiment of a well-raised noble young man.

However.

The fact that he remained vigilant even in places where one should be able to relax might be problematic.

If they were being pursued, it would make sense, but there hadn’t been any urgent situations so far.

And it wasn’t as if he was doing this to strengthen his faith as a religious person. That wasn’t it.

A knight with firm convictions?

That wasn’t it either.

“…This isn’t the time to be pondering such things.”

She needed to find work.

Otherwise, her purse would quickly become lighter.

Given how much she ate, her food expenses were considerable.

If she had eaten just like her master, she would have saved up enough capital to settle somewhere long ago.

‘On the other hand, without the pleasure of eating, what joy is there in living?’

It’s all about living well.

It’s not that Luirin particularly avoided drinking and merrymaking from a young age.

How many people her age weren’t heavy drinkers?

Only those raised by strict parents were forbidden from drinking; orphans like her would drink whether they were three or four, as long as alcohol was within reach.

It’s just a matter of what taste one enjoys.

Drinking heavily might feel good momentarily, but the feeling is quickly forgotten, and waking up only brings a headache.

Besides, even in supposedly safe places, who can guarantee what might happen when one is defenseless?

There’s no one trustworthy in this world.

Even those you trust can betray you overnight in this damned world.

If you don’t want to be taken advantage of, don’t create situations where it can happen.

…In that regard, her master was a model example.

“Hmm, hmm, hmm.”

In that sense, perhaps she and her master were quite compatible as adventure companions.

It was also useful that he could restrain her when she went overboard.

She scoured the Eden Revan Guild branch for long-term requests, dispatches, or expedition-level missions, but nothing notable came up.

The best available was caravan escort duty, which wasn’t even local but required traveling far.

Even this would need coordination due to varying schedules.

“Not feasible right now.”

More importantly, she was hungry.

She headed to the dining area and, despite it being called a simple meal, ate her fill, which drew some concerned glances.

It was just hard bread with cheese and milk, but perhaps it was because she ate it all so readily.

Since there wasn’t even soup to soften the bread or any minimal accompaniments, she had to chew thoroughly and soak it in milk repeatedly. This prolonged her mealtime considerably, though not much actually went into her stomach.

“……”

She craved meat.

After leaving the guild building, Luirin didn’t bother looking for Kariel.

She wasn’t a baby bird crying for its mother.

Instead, she spent time exploring the first tier of the city, habitually listening for information and potential job opportunities.

“Hmm.”

Though they were a minority, there were more armed individuals than yesterday.

All of them lightly armed.

They didn’t seem like merchants, guards, travelers, or pilgrims… more like…

“Come to think of it, this is a pilgrimage site.”

In the Metran Kingdom, Grandeus was a monumental figure, rumored to have defeated even Rueld.

Moreover, a foreign knight, armed with chivalrous principles, had defeated the most outstanding knight and warrior of the knight’s country with a knight’s sword?

…That was something to be proud of.

Though it wasn’t a subject she particularly cared about.

She had visited this place several times before, but yesterday was the first time she had actually held the sword.

To that extent, such symbols and commemorative items seemed utterly useless to Luirin.

“They say tombs are for the living, don’t they?”

Then what about those who died without a tomb and became food for beasts?

Or those who rotted into the earth? Are they to bear misfortune even in death due to differences in race, status, wealth, and poverty?

“That doesn’t make sense.”

A good person, once dead, is just a corpse.

A bad person, once dead, is also just a corpse.

Death should be the great equalizer.

Yet the capricious actions of the living make even death unequal.

But the deceased have no say.

In the end, the living simply use the corpses of the dead as they please.

Though not a sage, the elderly master who knew much had taught her that there was no value in resolving curiosities about life and death.

Instead, he had advised her to train well and earn money quickly.

“Huh?”

When she spotted Leo and Lusiri among the bustling merchants, she instinctively turned in their direction.

“Hello?”

“Oh?”

The two were engaged in conversation with a tall young man with a beard.

Luirin approached first and greeted them, and the man’s eyes lit up with a welcoming expression.

“Who might this pretty little lady be?”

With his disorderly brown hair pressed down by a wide-brimmed black hat, the bearded man immediately showed interest in the girl who had made her presence known.

His deep blue eyes were brimming with goodwill.

It wasn’t without reason.

It was the kind of attention that men typically reserve for women.

Luirin’s silver-tinged eyes reflected a sense of familiarity with even this.

“This is Luirin. And… Luirin, did everything go well yesterday? Oh, this is our colleague, Deike. You’re meeting him for the first time, right?”

Leo laid the groundwork for introductions, allowing the two to easily introduce themselves to each other.

“Your expressions don’t look good. Is something troubling you?”

“Hmm? Was it that obvious?”

As Deike scratched his beard, exaggerating his question, Lusiri kicked him in the shin as if it were a habit.

“Ow! This cursed witch! If only your appearance was as ugly as your behavior, I’d retaliate immediately!”

“What can I do about being born beautiful?”

“Can’t you at least speak nicely!”

Half-jokingly, half-seriously, Deike grumbled, while Lusiri crossed her arms triumphantly.

“Ah, I’m parched. Isn’t there a good tavern around? Let’s continue our conversation there while we unwind.”

“How can we find a good place in a place like this? We just go to whatever’s available.”

Luirin pointed at herself and asked.

“Um, Deike? Is it okay for me to join the three of you in your gathering?”

“An acquaintance with a promising future like a pretty young lady is always welcome. Besides, calling me ‘oppa’… that sounds very nice!”

“Deike…”

Leo gave him a disapproving look, but he paid no attention.

“And it’s not like we’re discussing anything that secretive, right? If it were truly confidential, you two would have stopped her, wouldn’t you?”

“Well…”

Lusiri’s expression stiffened slightly as she looked back and forth between Leo and Deike.

Then Deike continued in a teasing tone.

“Ah, your names are so similar, but you can’t get along? She’d make a perfect little sister.”

“I-I’m hundreds of times closer to her than you are! Right, Luirin?”

“Of course! My big sister and I are close enough to live under the same roof anytime!”

At this, Deike exaggeratedly stuck out his tongue.

“What? You two are already that close? Are you long-lost sisters or something?”

“Lusiri? That’s impressive. When did you two get so close?”

“…Leo? Why are you the one sounding impressed?”

The tavern was the only one in the village, doubling as a restaurant.

The four naturally moved to this place and sat around a secluded round table.

“What about Sejina and Ribein?”

When Leo asked, Deike just shook his head.

“If you don’t know, I don’t either. I came straight here after finishing my assigned task.”

“Since they haven’t joined yet, we don’t know much either.”

Deike then grumbled.

“Well, finding an unnamed hero isn’t an easy task.”

“Hero?”

When Luirin expressed her confusion with her eyes, Deike asked the other two.

“You haven’t told our little lady anything?”

“We just met her yesterday.”

Following Lusiri’s response, Leo briefly explained the situation from the previous day.

“It’s not even a city-sized place. How can such a shady organization exist in a mere village?”

“Don’t underestimate it. If it grows a bit more, it could easily become a small city.”

“How much bigger? Twice? Three times? If it were that big, wouldn’t there be checkpoints in addition to the trading post?”

If it were city-sized, would the local lord, Yarl, have left it alone?

The fact that the village chief openly manages the village affairs is only possible because it’s village-sized.

Of course, this isn’t their private property or possession.

And if it were a city, there would be a governor or mayor acting as the lord’s representative for small cities.

“Anyway, Leo. Have you found out anything about the Demon King?”

“Nothing at all.”

“Didn’t the elder tell you to ask someone here?”

“I’ve been asking, but they’re not cooperating.”

“Who?”

“The sword.”

“I’ve heard this before, but why such a weird name?”

“I’m not talking about someone named ‘Sword.’ I mean an actual sword. The one that’s been wielded.”

“What?”

Deike’s eyes widened as if he had misheard.

And then he said:

“A real sword? Is this some kind of joke? Lusiri? Is what Leo’s saying true?”

“…How would I know?”

“Aren’t you a talented witch?”

“Do witches have to know everything? I am talented, though.”

Luirin also tilted her head in confusion, and Leo, seemingly frustrated, held his temples.

“Why does no one believe me? I’ve said this multiple times!”

“No matter how you look at it, that’s strange.”

“I told you the same thing before! The elder said to go here and ask the sword!”

“Back then, I thought you meant someone named ‘Sword.’ But now you’re saying it’s an actual piece of metal? How is that different from confusing a horse with speech?”

“…Sigh. You’re not even listening to me.”

“No, that’s not it. You should have been more precise! Even you were uncertain, weren’t you? You only became confident after coming here. Besides, Lusiri? Didn’t you hear anything when he said that?”

“…Hmph!”

“What? Are you upset that Leo heard something you didn’t?”

“Not at all! Don’t treat me like a narrow-minded woman!”

Leo felt wronged, but since Deike’s words weren’t entirely incorrect, he remained silent.

How was he supposed to know he had to literally ask a sword?

He had thought that with such a unique name, he’d quickly find the person, but he was quite shocked when told no such person existed.

So he had just decided to go see the embedded sword.

“Anyway, the sword told me to get lost, and I heard it clearly. And if the sword spoke, that means I can talk to it too, right?”

“……”

“……”

Lusiri and Deike shook their heads in unison.

“You must be very tired.”

“Well, traveling around for almost a year without rest could make anyone’s mind a bit… Ah, and having the Witch of the West Wind right beside you probably didn’t help.”

“Are you blaming me now?!”

Luirin caught onto something else.

“Witch of the West Wind?”

“Oh, you didn’t know? Our little lady?”

“…I never told her. I never revealed it.”

“You’ve got your self-introductions backward.”

“It’s not something to boast about. When people hear ‘witch,’ the ignorant ones immediately think of evil witches. Do you think I’m not wronged by that?”

Her words conveyed a genuine sense of grievance.

Perhaps that’s why Deike nodded emphatically, acknowledging her feelings.

“That’s true. But we know better than anyone how malicious and vexing you can be…”

BANG!

“Urgh!”

The table shook, and Deike’s upper body collapsed.

“Deike. Let’s speak properly.”

“I was only telling the truth…”

BANG!

“Gaaack.”

He’s nearly dead.

At that moment, various screams erupted from another part of the tavern.

“Aaaaah!”

“Kyaaah!”

“What’s with all these damn rats?!”

As soon as the commotion started across the room:

“Kyaaak!”

Thanks to the rats that scurried over to their side, Lusiri pulled her legs up onto the chair and let out a shrill scream.

“Whaaat! Why are there rats?!”

Not just one, but over a dozen.

They scurried across the tavern floor and eventually disappeared into cracks in the walls and ceiling.

…Though it lasted less than a minute, the tavern’s interior was left in shock from the aftermath.

Of course, there were also those who seemed unbothered or indifferent to the commotion.

Among them, there might have been someone who had a rat climb up their leg and into their pants, as a burly man stood up abruptly and danced around with youthful screams, causing bursts of laughter.

And another incident was added to their table:

“That’s a nice picture.”

“I-I’ll kill you!”

Lusiri had unconsciously thrown herself into Leo’s arms.

Realizing her embarrassing action belatedly, her face quickly turned as red as a radish.

“Why is a witch afraid of rats?”

“Deike! Why can’t you keep your mouth shut for even a moment?! Do you have some terrible disease that would kill you if you closed your mouth?”

“No, but I do have a disease where I wither if I don’t see beautiful women.”

“……”

The atmosphere momentarily turned awkward.

“It’s only because Leo and I are decent enough to tolerate your nasty personality, yet you can’t even show gratitude.”

The table shook again, and Deike once more planted his face on the table with a dying expression.

“…This is the kind of relationship we have.”

At Leo’s words, Luirin nodded understandingly.

“You all seem to have fun together.”

“Fun? What fun!” “How is this fun?!”

Faced with their simultaneous reactions, Luirin clapped her hands in amazement.

Leo asked again.

“By the way, what about Master Riel?”

“My master left early in the morning, they said.”

“I see.”

Unless the village is particularly large, they could easily find him if they wanted to.

…But first, they’d need to think of a reason to find or join him.

Before that, let’s clarify one thing.

“You mentioned the Demon King earlier, right? What was that about?”

For something she had overheard in passing, it smelled like money.

Or rather, it reeked of something even more dangerous.